Hope Farm Project marks phase II handover

The government and the Swakop Uranium Foundation held an official handover at Farm Daweb outside Usakos, marking the completion of Phase II of the Hope Farm Project and concluding the initiative’s activities in the Erongo Region before it moves to its next location.

Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani presided over the event alongside Swakop Uranium CEO Wei Luo and foundation chairperson Percy McCallum.

The project was inaugurated in its first phase on 26 July 2025. Since then, it has benefited 48 communal farmers organised into cooperatives across the region, 22 of whom are women and 26 men. A total of 1 008 goats and sheep have been distributed under the initiative. The initial herd stood at 630 animals and has since grown to 751 within one production cycle.

Zaamwani highlighted the livestock growth in her keynote address. “This growth is far more than a statistical milestone. It stands as a powerful demonstration of what becomes possible when communities, government and the private sector unite behind a shared vision for our national development,” she said.

Revolving model

The project operates on a revolving model.

Beneficiaries are required to return a portion of their livestock after a two-year period so that new beneficiaries can be supported. The minister reminded recipients of this obligation during the ceremony. “You are not merely recipients. You are becoming active partners in the development of this country,” Zaamwani said, urging cooperatives to manage their resources with discipline and foresight.

“Thirty-six years after independence, as a country, we have come of age. We should be independent in that we assist the government, as opposed to asking what our country can do for us,” Zaamwani said.

The initiative is linked to the ministry’s Small Livestock Support Revolving Programme, which has been running since 2009 across all regions.

Since its inception, the programme has supported 819 farmers with 16 380 ewes and 819 rams. The Hope Farm Project builds on this through a public–private partnership model that the minister said will be formalised through a memorandum of understanding between the ministry, Swakop Uranium and other partners.

Agriculture a priority

“Beyond policies, programmes and institutional responsibilities, agriculture remains a bread-and-butter endeavour. It is about ensuring that families have food on the table, that our country is food secure, and that we produce what we eat,” Zaamwani said. “Agriculture remains the most powerful tool at our disposal to transform rural livelihoods and uplift communities.”

The ceremony was held at Farm Dawib West, which falls under Namibia’s land resettlement programme. Zaamwani commended the Omkhaibasen Farmers Cooperative for its management of the farm and called on other resettled farms across the country to follow suit.

On the question of inclusion, the minister acknowledged the deliberate focus on women as beneficiaries but called for greater participation of youth farmers and underprivileged households in future project cycles.

“When I see these results, I see resilience. I see determination. I see communities taking ownership of their development and shaping their own future with confidence and pride,” she said.

The minister also appealed to other private sector players to participate in similar initiatives. “It is my hope that other stakeholders will be inspired by this project to join such transformative efforts in the near future, so that together we may broaden the reach and deepen the impact,” she said.